Tenerife: El Rosario was the first to develop a detailed forest fire prevention plan
El Rosario in Tenerife has developed a comprehensive forest fire prevention plan, setting an example for other towns in the Canary Islands, including encouraging livestock grazing to reduce the risk of fires.
The great fire on Tenerife in August 2023 became a serious lesson for many cities, including El Rosario. At that time, the fire destroyed thousands of hectares of forest, and many people had to be evacuated. It became clear that it was necessary to take better care of the areas where the city borders the forest in order to prevent fires.
Therefore, El Rosario began to actively work on this. A special plan was developed, new rules were adopted, grazing of livestock is encouraged (because animals eat dry grass that easily catches fire), and territories are cleaned more often. Thanks to this, El Rosario has become an example for other cities in the Canary Islands.
In June 2024, the city council unanimously approved an action plan in case of forest fires. This document was developed by experts from the University of La Laguna. It is important that El Rosario became the first city in Tenerife and the second in the Canary Islands to have such a detailed plan. It specifies where the shelters are located, how to evacuate people, and how quickly city services will respond.
The mayor of the city, Escolástico Gil, emphasized that this plan is very important: "Less than a year has passed since the great fire, and we already have a clear protocol that will help us fight fire more effectively."
The city also adopted new rules regarding the cleaning and fencing of plots, especially those located near the forest. This is necessary to ensure that there is no dry grass and garbage on the plots that can easily catch fire. The mayor explained that these rules were developed after the fire in order to respond to the danger more quickly.
After the adoption of the new rules, the city began to inspect the plots and inform the owners about the need for cleaning. Many residents independently cleaned their territories. In addition, the city authorities took these measures into account in the general action plan for emergency situations.
Another important step was to encourage the grazing of goats and cattle in areas bordering the forest. They say that these are "firefighter goats", because they eat dry grass and thereby create natural firebreaks. This helps to preserve the forest and support local farmers. The city authorities help shepherds and landowners organize grazing. Money is also allocated to support this activity.
The mayor emphasized: "Livestock has always helped to maintain balance in the ecosystem by controlling vegetation and reducing the amount of materials that can easily catch fire. Therefore, it is important to encourage grazing not only to prevent fires, but also to support the local economy and preserve traditions."